TRIPOLI—The
diverse colors of Africa—its flags and its peoples—adorned this
coastal city in northern Africa Sept. 1-10. In an historic display of
African unity that would make the ancestors proud, 43 heads of state came
to Libya to support one of Africa’s premiere revolutionaries, Col.
Muammar Gadhafi, whose nation has suffered seven years of international
sanctions.

The occasion was the 4th Extraordinary Summit of the Organization of
African Unity (OAU), a special session called by the Col. Gadhafi to
discuss the urgent need to form a "United States of Africa" to
insure survival of the continent in the face of increasing global
competition. It also was the 30th anniversary of the September 1, 1969
(Al-Fatah) Revolution that brought Mr. Gadhafi to power in a bloodless
coup.

Banners urging African unity and other inspirational phrases adorned
buildings along the streets, as well as photographs of heads of state of
Africa. Dancers and cultural troupes from sub-Saharan Africa performed
nightly in the city’s main square bringing added life to a city already
vibrant with Afro-Arab culture.

On Sept. 7, the official observation of the anniversary of the
Revolution, nearly two dozen heads of state and special guests witnessed a
massive display of military might. Guests included Palestinian leader
Yassar Arafat, Algerian freedom fighter Ahmed Ben Bella, former Zambian
President Kenneth Kaunda, and a delegation from the Nation of Islam,
including Chief of Staff Leonard F. Muhammad, Assistant Supreme Captain
Mustapha Farrakhan, International Representative Akbar Muhammad and
Minister of Health Abdul Alim Muhammad.

Most significant about the parade was the symbolic presence of military
troops from more than 20 other African nations who marched before the
reviewing stand, demonstrating the potential military might of a united
Africa. Libyan jets piloted by females streaked through the sky performing
acrobatic tumbles and military formations, and Libya’s Navy, including a
submarine and gunships, dotted the waters. The military parade also
included long range missile units, tanks, anti-aircraft missile units and
a huge contingent of Libyan ground forces.

The parade began with verses from the Holy Qur’an and a procession of
the huge pipes used to build the Great Man-Made River which brings water
from deep underground in Libya’s desert to the metropolitan areas of the
country.

Congratulating the Libyan people, Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe,
who was one of the first heads of state to arrive to a festive, red-carpet
atmosphere at the airport, said: "African unity cannot be defeated by
any tyrannical force whatever its source might be. We the peoples of
Africa have our objectives to develop our continent and we should with
unity challenge all foreign interventions in the continent.

"All of us should celebrate this and commit ourselves to unity and
solidarity against injustice in the future," he said.

President Jerry John Rawlings saluted Libya’s 30-year history of
supporting liberation struggles in other countries on the continent and
abroad. He said more countries must shoulder the responsibility of
struggle.

"Great levels of the liberation struggle have been achieved at the
expense of the individual countries," he said. "What we need is
for more countries to come on board to assist one another so the burden of
helping one another will not be the sole responsibility of a handful of
countries.

"I wish to put the record straight," he continued,
"there are those who view our struggle for liberation as a form of
terrorism. According to my information and knowledge … Libya has offered
assistance for struggle for freedom in Africa and not for terrorist
movements."

OAU Deputy Secretary General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Daggash
described the military demonstration as "not a show of power (but)
something Africa is showing to the world, that unity and solidarity is
everywhere, including the military."

"There is no doubt that when you take all the human development
indexes, this country has made one of greatest progress in Africa in the
last 40 years, in fact, the world. It is an example for many of us in
Africa to follow," said President Obasanjo of Nigeria.

Upon coming to power in 1969 after overthrowing King Idriss, Col.
Gadhafi began to reform the country, nationalizing its oil and seizing
control from foreign interests of other natural resources. He also put
forth a style of governing—through Peoples Congresses—which is laid
out in his "Green Book."